Senator Ted Cruz is demanding answers from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Superintendent Joanna Nunan concerning a series of racially charged tweets made by the academy's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) director, Anton Tripolskii. Cruz expressed concern over Tripolskii's past comments targeting white individuals, questioning the director's impartiality and the academy's hiring practices. The Senator emphasized the importance of a safe and inclusive environment for all cadets, particularly given the USMMA's history of sexual assault and harassment cases. Cruz highlighted a 2020 tweet from Tripolskii where he linked misogyny and racism to "white, male" roots, deeming the statement bigoted and inaccurate. He also raised concerns about whether Tripolskii's biases could compromise his ability to handle sexual assault and harassment cases fairly, potentially deterring cadets from reporting incidents. The Senator's letter included a series of questions for Superintendent Nunan, including inquiries about the academy's curriculum and whether Tripolskii has faced any disciplinary actions for his public statements.